AN CRITICISED health care trust hopes to claw back its reputation through the launch of its Patient and Public Involvement Strategy.

The image of the city-based Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS was tarnished when it conceded the treatment of Alzheimer's sufferer Harry Longden 'fell well below that which should have been expected'.

His relatives complained their concerns about his drugs regime went unheeded, they were not kept informed about his treat-ment and their attempts to look at his medical records were blocked.

The trust, which provides mental health and drug and alcohol services, says there has been a cultural change since the Longden case, as encapsulated in the new Patient and Public Involvement Strategy.

This aims to improve patient-centred care by ensuring the development of services is under-pinned by 'real and meaningful' involvement from patients and carers. The Trust, based on the Countess of Chester Health Park, says this should ensure:

Better feedback on patient needs, treatments and results More innovation, leading to more effective care

Greater satisfaction and improved results for patients, carers, the public and staff.

A taskforce has been set up comprising staff, managers, service users and carers, including Phil Hough, of Northwich, who supports his schizophrenic elder brother Simon.

Phil said: 'Giving people the opportunity to get involved in services and decisions which ultimately affect them is an enormous step forward for the NHS as a whole.

'Medicines and treatments have moved on enormously since Simon's first diagnosis and I'm glad to be playing a part in shaping the future of modern mental health services in Cheshire.'

But a cloud hangs over the trust which is being investigated by the health service ombudsman over the treatment of the late Harry Longden, 65, of Westminster Park, Chester, two years ago.

The Commission for Health Improvement and the General Medical Council are also looking at the case after Mr Longden's son Michael complained.

Mr Longden Jr, of Mollington, is unconvinced by talk of patient and public involvement.

He said: 'We have found through recent experience that the words of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust do not match their actions and are nothing more than 'spin'. We too were promised 'openness and honesty' when investigating our very serious complaint but instead received secrecy.'

The trust employs 2,400 staff who provide mental health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services in Cheshire and the Wirral. It works in close cooperation with service users and carers and with the two social service authorities. In addition, it works with the wider NHS, other statutory organisations and voluntary organisations.